Soul Care - Confession
by Mary Elsbury
I grew up in the Catholic faith and a routine part of life was going to confession. It was scary as a kid because you went inside a telephone booth sized space, knelt down, and waited for the priest to push open the screen to hear what you had to say. It might have included talking back to your parent or teacher, lying about something, or not going to church. The priest would give you penance – saying the rosary or a prayer – and it would be over until the next time when the cycle would play out again the same way. As I got older, I challenged my local priest as to why we had to go through him and not directly to God as the Bible instructed. I was asked not to come back.
We all sin. It’s part of living in this fallen world. I am thankful that Jesus talked about sin and its consequences. We can go directly to Him with our faults, confess what we have done, and be forgiven. Having a relationship with God is being an open book. Let’s be real. He already knows our thoughts and actions; we just need to repent when we mess up.
My aunt always said that confession was good for the soul, but it’s hard to do. Since we don’t walk alone as a Christian, finding an accountability partner that will keep you sharp is paramount. That person might be your best friend, spouse, Bible Study partner – it’s different for every person. It’s someone you can be honest with, who reserves judgment, and is trusted.
A good confession is a process of refinement by the Holy Spirit that opens our heart to what is happening. In James 5:16 we read, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” Breaking down walls of shame and embracing renewal and forgiveness allows us to keep going forward.
Take time for some self-examination by looking at your life: Are you part of a circle of friends with questionable habits? Are you constantly blaming others for your actions? Are you willing to have your toes stepped on by God and a trusted friend? Begin by using Scripture to point out your issues – maybe the Ten Commandments or the seven deadly sins. Admit to God and ask for forgiveness, seeking His grace to change. Replace bad friends or actions. Substitute reading the Bible for watching television. It might mean making a phone call or having a conversation to rectify a situation. Honesty leads to confession, and confession leads to change. The whole process is done for the sake of living a life full of joy.
While I am thankful for those early days in the Catholic Church, my foundation is built on the Scriptures that tell me I don’t need an earthly priest to hear my confession. The Bible reminds me that my hope is not in how I confess, or where I confess, but rather in the One to whom I confess – Jesus Christ, our perfect mediator. He paid for my sins, is healing me from them, and one day will restore us all to new life so we have no sins left to confess.
